Grimm's 'town-hall meeting' not what it should have been

The April 28 public meeting at the Bernikow JCC was more “The Michael Grimm Show” than it was that very important foundation of democracy — the town-hall meeting.

On the front page of the Advance the next day, a photograph showed a member of the audience standing, holding a microphone while Mr. Grimm is standing nearby, presumably listening.

This photograph does not depict the predominant activity of the evening. That was Mr. Grimm monopolizing the microphone and the dialogue. At the same time, the moderator, who had been introduced at the beginning, disappeared completely from the proceedings.

During a period characterized by divisive partisan politics, abuse of public office and power, and incompetence at all levels of government, along with widespread apathy, Mr. Grimm made the ridiculous statement that “Our democracy, our republic, has never been stronger.”